The Falcons can make the Super Bowl: Do they know that?
"Stand aside, striped stripling! I'm bound for glory!" (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The bye week arrives at a propitious time. The Falcons are 5-2, owners of the NFC’s best record. (The Giants would likewise be 5-2 if they beat Dallas tonight.) They’ve done good work. They’re capable of better.
The bye week brings time to refocus and recalibrate. Everything the Falcons believed about themselves when they reported to training camp has been borne out: They are indeed a massively gifted team. We saw as much Sunday when the Bengals brought a bunch of brand-name players — Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Adam “Pacman” Jones — to the Dome. The Falcons built a three-touchdown lead, tossed it away and then surged backed ahead by two touchdowns.
And therein we bore witness to both the Falcons’ inherent potential and their one liability. They’re good enough to beat anybody, but sometimes they don’t seem to grasp how good they can be. Oh, they talk about it. They pay lip service. But I’m not yet sure that there pulses within this team the rock-solid belief — as opposed to the suspicion — that its manifest destiny is the Super Bowl.
New England bears that belief. Pittsburgh, too. But those teams have been there and won it all, and the Falcons have graced the game with the Roman numerals only once, and that was four coaches ago. The Falcons are 25-14 under Mike Smith but haven’t yet won a playoff game, losing at Phoenix in January 2009 as a road favorite. And for all the fine players imported by Thomas Dimitroff — Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez, Mike Peterson, Dunta Robinson — not one of them wears a Super Bowl ring.
And that’s really the only flaw I see. This offense is capable of great things. This defense is getting better as it goes. (Yeah, Palmer threw for 412 yards Sunday, but that can happen when a team gets that far behind.) My issue with the Falcons isn’t what they can do but in how often they do it. They played wall-to-wall in the signature overtime victory in New Orleans. They got away with a half-effort against San Francisco. They didn’t get away with it in Philadelphia.
To me, the game that still resonates was the opener in Pittsburgh. The Steelers were without Ben Roethlisberger and still carried themselves as if they expected to invent some way to win, which they did in overtime. The Falcons messed around and managed not to score a touchdown. Yes, the Steelers can play some D, but still … no TDs for the offense of Turner and Gonzalez and Roddy White and Matt Ryan? Seriously?
What needs to happen over the bye week is that these Falcons look both without and within. Check around the NFC and they won’t find one team with more talent. Those touted most in preseason — Dallas, Minnesota, Green Bay and New Orleans — have all wobbled. The Falcons have climbed to 5-2 and have already played their most difficult road games. They’re not just playing to win the NFC South; they’re playing for the No. 1 seed.
And that’s the reason for the look within. The Falcons have to say, “We’re doing this.” Not: “We can do this.” They already know, or at least have reason to suspect, they can. The test now is simply to do. No more slack Sundays. No more sluggish starts with a blocked punt thrown in. Only big-time professional football from here on, the kind the Steelers and the Patriots play as a matter of course.
This doesn’t mean the Falcons can’t lose another game. They probably will. (Baltimore at the Dome on Thursday night — tough duty.) What it means is that the belief/expectation needs to grow within the complex at 4400 Falcon Parkway that this is now the home office of a fully expectant champion.
Mike Smith has a Super Bowl ring from his days as a Baltimore assistant. He should pass it around and let his men assess its size and importance. Because these Falcons could all be wearing such a ring very soon. Their sin would be in waiting too long to grasp what’s at stake. This team is good enough to be playing in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 6, 2011. It absolutely is.
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279 comments Add your comment
Doc Cheney
October 25th, 2010
3:18 pm
I’m gonna get soooo drunk the night of the Ravens game. Woohoo, I can’t wait. We should be ready to fight on a short week after a home loss to the .500 Bucs.
ctfalconsfan
October 25th, 2010
3:19 pm
Who was the other RB that we used yesterday that had 1 carry for 20 or 23 yards??
I hadn’t seen him before, he looked pretty fast out there…
Tommy
October 25th, 2010
3:23 pm
Here are the opponents the rest of the way:
Home: Tampa, baltimore, green bay, New orleans, carolina
Road: St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa, Carolina
Nine games, 5 gimmes, 3 tough ones, and one trap game (at Seattle). 12-4 looks reasonable, and given that all of the other good NFC teams except the saints are piled into two divisions and will keep beating each other, should be good enough for the #1 seed.
There are two great things about this Falcons team: first is its predictability. Not the bad football predictability (like greg knapp’s playbook) but the type that makes you say when they’re down 25-24 ‘just give it to turner and open up white and gonzalez, and we’ll win’ and they do it.
The second is that they are good but do not have a ‘hook’. By that I mean no gimmick plays, no insane turnover ratio, or a mad scientist coaching staff that somehow makes it work. They’re just. . . .good, like the Cowboys of the ’70s or the Redskins in the ’80s. They don’t do anything best, they just do everything very well.
20 year fan
October 25th, 2010
3:23 pm
I have been a big fan for last 20 years but i have few issues that continuously happen and something needs to be said. This is why the town has such a hard time following the falcons. They keep shooting themselves in the foot.
Has anyone else noticed that when the falcons get ahead even by 2 scores coach smith or murlarky starts calling safe plays that end up getting us in trouble and then after the falcons are behind the coaches try to turn it back up. One of these games it’s not going to work and we are going to be knocked out of contention. I would like to know who is the one responsible for not playing hard and strategic throughout the entire game. I was almost embarresed last Sunday. They almost blew it. There is no way we should have blown such a lead.
Also what is with the trick plays that we can’t defend against. Every team we play will start to incorporate this after a couple of teams had success with them against the falcons. Do you think Smith is working on the teams to defend the trick plays? I hate getting burned on those type of plays. Everyone needs to know their resposiblilty to avoid that.
RobbE33
October 25th, 2010
3:55 pm
Best article of the season, Mark. Thanks.
I hope this makes it to the locker room.
Wess Romo
October 25th, 2010
4:14 pm
San Fran can win the Superbowl if there are some key injuries on at least 28 other teams.
Atlanta can lose every game from here out with some key injuries on their team.
It’s all a crap shoot in this age of parity.
We have the talent. Do we have the depth?
MB
October 25th, 2010
4:16 pm
If the Falcons get home field throughout the playoffs they probably will get to the Super Bowl.
MB
October 25th, 2010
4:19 pm
Stop complaining ! The Falcons are 5-2.
NOLA
October 25th, 2010
4:24 pm
here we go again. Bradley no one believes anything you say not even the gullible falcon fans.
NOLA
October 25th, 2010
4:28 pm
when the season ends we will still be division champs and we will have home field advantage in the NFC. I am not even worried. Brees just needs to stop throwing to the other team.
ctfalconsfan
October 25th, 2010
4:36 pm
NOLA – saints are in a downward spiral, you just don’t see it.
Pitt will beat you guys down to 4-4.
moorman
October 25th, 2010
4:37 pm
exactly atl king. the falcons arent a physical team on defense. THAT is what wins championships.
ctfalconsfan
October 25th, 2010
4:43 pm
We do have a lot of talent but with Robinson out you could see where our biggest weakness is – CB!!!
I like Grimes but he’s not a starter and having him and owens out there yesterday was a nightmare as a good QB would have lit us up for a lot more than 350 yards, which was a season high for Palmer who is at best an average NFL QB.
The other issue, more importantly, is coaching. I still can’t get over how we were SOOOOOOOOOOOO outcoached by Philly on all sides of the ball. If we are going to go the SB we can’t have complete collapses like we did in that game.
Steelers fan
October 25th, 2010
4:44 pm
If the Falcons get lucky and make the Super Bowl, they will choke just like last time. In the end it will be same old Falcons. All bark and no bite.
Paddy
October 25th, 2010
4:44 pm
lee….I have something to say about D Hall. He is still an “all about me” kind of player on a team sport. Falcons and Raiders are glad he is somewhere else!
John
October 25th, 2010
4:45 pm
Bradley,
You gotta be kidding! Is the NFC so weak you see the Birds representing the conference in the Super Bowl?
They hold off a late charge by an equally inconsistent Bengals team and Matt Ryan finally finds some downfield targets and you’re ready to annoint them champs of the NFC.
As evidence, you rattled off the Bengals stallwarts like they’re Murderer’s Row. Save Cedric Benson, they’re a bunch of has-beens.
The Falcons conference-best record is a shanked kick and a Roddy White strip away from being 3-4. The Eagles exposed them for the inconsistent group they are. Often impressive, just as often grab-asstic, dumbfuddled and just plain bad, this team hasn’t beaten anybody good yet.
I like the Birds as much as the next guy, but I think you’ve been dipping Mexican snuff.
Roger That Captain
October 25th, 2010
4:49 pm
Mark, now the Falcons will barely make the playoffs and lose in the first round. Thanks a lot, Man..
SeenThisB4
October 25th, 2010
4:59 pm
Falcon Fans – It’s time for me to be a man and say the Falcons are the class of the NFC South. My Saints are clearly in a tailspin and it will only get worse.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 25th, 2010
5:13 pm
Like I said after Week 2, the NFC is wide open this year, and there’s no reason why the Falcons shouldn’t be the team that represents the conference in the Super Bowl. It would especially help them if they clinch the #1 seed, since Matt Ryan seems to be much, much better at home than on the road.
I think the Eagles with Vick and the Giants are better than the Falcons in a playoff game played on a neutral site (the Packers would be too if they weren’t decimated by injuries), but that won’t matter if the Falcons end up with the best record in the NFC.
Angelo
October 25th, 2010
5:15 pm
I don’t care about what they say about Falcons. The fact of matter is the falcons are winning and they are not even playing that great right now. This team is only going to get better as we move on. So beware AFC
Sid
October 25th, 2010
5:19 pm
Brett, I sure would have liked to seen you behind center as a Falcon but we just weren’t hiring heavy drinkers in those days. Now, with your broken ankle, this is a perfect opportunity to go home to your wife and see what you can salvage (did ya have a prenup bud?) So put on your open fly Wranglers and ride off into the sunset………….in other words R E T I R E………it’s the right time!
Falcon Friend
October 25th, 2010
5:28 pm
Nark: You are too much. Please restrain yourself until they play a few more games. You don`t need to make predictions like this. You can still lead
the AJC sportswriters in blog hits without this untimely stuff. Only the
team can know they are capable of winning a championship. No fan nor writer gets on the field.
Big B in Newnan
October 25th, 2010
6:01 pm
If they would fire Brian VanGorder the defence would be better served. There’s talent there but Van Gorder refuses to let it out. Show different looks for Pete’s sake. Press coverage with the corners, stack 8-9 guys in the box and back off (or blitz), just give the opposing QB something to think about… too much vanilla.
Samuel
October 25th, 2010
6:20 pm
Anything is possible, if we block for Ryan he can get it done. Harry Douglas should be used like Percy Harvin in Minnesota. We could dail up a few more plays for No 27- so he can get out on the outside. The defense must show up in every game an compete. The coaching has to improve game to game. no major injuries.
Wildebeast
October 25th, 2010
6:28 pm
So, who’s throwing Roddy the ball…oh yeah, Matt Ryan!
J-MAN
October 25th, 2010
6:31 pm
If they are gonna make the Super Bowl they need to quit giving up big passing days to Kolb and Palmer. Because Big Ben, Manning or Brady will eat them alive. This is a great week for a bye it gives the chance to get some players healthy and make a run to the playoffs
reckingball
October 25th, 2010
7:01 pm
John@4;45………”I like the Birds as much as the next guy”? YOU gotta be kidding! You rattle off all of that negative crap about the Falcons, and then claim to be a Falcons fan, come on man, I can smell a saints fan a mile away, and you have the scent.
reckingball
October 25th, 2010
7:16 pm
The Falcons win, and still there are so many of these imbeciles on this blog complaining, about the way that they won the game.
They won, they have the best record in their conference, they are 5-2, lighten up, have a drink, enjoy it.
The best thing about it, is that they are getting better as the season progresses.
Ron
October 25th, 2010
7:32 pm
Great game birds, I am surprised that no one has talked about us going to the shotgun yesterday, do you think maybe that is why we had better protection and why the passing game woke up. Matt actually had time to let the plays develop down field, now throw in a few screens and a draw or two and we might actually look like an offense. WE are truly in a great position to be the top team in the NFC I can see us at twelve and four real easy if we beat the teams we are supposed to beat. I just hope we don’t have a let down against a Carolina or Tampa, our super bowl is against Baltimore if we beat them I will be a confirmed believer, and it would be great to see Matt beat Flacco. In other words if we beat Baltimore, I will believe we could win the super bowl against any of the AFC teams if we get there, I’m not sure I could say that now, but I do believe we are as good as any NFC team. The Giants are the only team in the NFC that should give us trouble, and no I don’t in any way think the Eagles are a better team than us, we just lost our minds that day, Pitt is far better than the Eagles, and we played them much better, and should have won that game!
My View
October 25th, 2010
7:52 pm
MB……..You stated what I thought while watching yesterdays game. Only, my belief was that they are “a year away”. The reason for my feelings were that I think they would play tough til the end of the season. Lose in they playoffs, then kick themselves all offseason when they realize how close they were and knowing that “they have what it takes”. You stated it best however. THEY GOTTA BELIEVE!!!
reckingball
October 25th, 2010
8:10 pm
I would like to see the Falcons beat-down the Bucs in both of the games this year, like about 45 to 0 would be nice, in each game. Like they used to do to the Falcons.
tom
October 25th, 2010
8:26 pm
Can’t have games like Philly and be in the Super Bowl. One game at a time. Might get lucky
bradley picks badley
October 25th, 2010
8:49 pm
Yeah right!!! Just like your prediction of the braves in the world series–please stop it.
JASon
October 25th, 2010
9:26 pm
“This doesn’t mean the Falcons can’t lose another game. They probably will.”
Mark, thanks for this gem.
Dr. Warren
October 25th, 2010
10:10 pm
These Falcons are very good at home. If they can get the number one seed somehow, then they have a good shot. The NFC seems very weak, though one or two teams will surely emerge from the pack.
mac
October 25th, 2010
10:39 pm
Bradley..c’mon man..pass it around..don’t be selfish..mannnn..thats some hellashish wacky backy!
Once again..the birds “backed” out of the stadium with the W..I don’t see them winning another 3 games this year..they will be lucky to win 2..
Hey M.B. try this method to pick your winners week to week..take a coin..make sure it’s “head”
side up..flip the coin..catch it in both hands..in other words “slap” both hands together as the coin
in in the air..comes up heads..team in top bracket wins..comes up tails..team in bottom bracket wins..I win the biggest majority of games each week!
BigHittas
October 25th, 2010
10:40 pm
Evidently MB didn’t see number 21 playing CB on Sunday. That was no Superbowl bound D. And that’s why Palmer threw for a gazillion yards. The guy is terrible; I have no idea why they play him.
buck strickland
October 25th, 2010
11:33 pm
JUST SHUT UP JINX BOY. SHUT UP. YOU JINX BRAVES. I’M SURE YOU’LL PICK THE DAWGS TO BEAT UF – JINX! AND NOW FALCONS. GEEZ. YOU. ARE. A. JINX MASTER!
Sid
October 25th, 2010
11:45 pm
Damn I did not remember how much we gave up for Texeira…………..and they’re all in the World Series………………..jeez……………
Sid
October 25th, 2010
11:48 pm
Ron
October 25th, 2010
7:32 pm
……………………………………….Ron, it’s not like we haven’t gone into the shotgun a gazillion times already…………Are you ok?
PMC
October 26th, 2010
12:38 am
The big plays given up are partly a result of youth. They over run stuff. They over pursue and are undiciplined. It’s part of the learning process. This is the reason that they have to score more points on offense.
This backed out nonsense is ridiculous. This is the NFL not college, everyone from the top to the bottom is a professional. They all have size they all have speed. Any team is capable of beating any other team on a given day.
To be fair on this one as well I don’t believe Mark is saying the Falcons WILL go to the Super Bowl only that they are capable. He wonders if they have he same belief or swagger as the Steelers or Patriots or a team that could have home field advantage in the playoffs.
It is entirely possible that they will have a chance to win every future game they play this season. They are plenty good enough to do that.
We all know they could use a few more starters, but most teams in the NFC are either deficient there or at head coach.
reckingball
October 26th, 2010
1:12 am
The Falcons will finish 12-4. The saints will be lucky to finish 8-8.
Sure are a lot of negative morons on this blog.
Sports Review
October 26th, 2010
7:30 am
[...] The Falcons can make the Super Bowl: Do they know that?Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Big day for White as Falcons fly to 5-2 with 39-32 win over BengalsNFL GridIron GabAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -The Falcoholicall 28 news articles » [...]
Will
October 26th, 2010
7:51 am
Mark:
I tried to contact you several times as, a notorious “home town bandwagon” journalist, I was certain you would “drink the koolaid” of the Falcons’ start.
The Falcons are good team but hardly a Super Bowl contender. So far, they have beaten one team that most did not think they would beat (New Orleans on the road) and lost a game (Pittsburgh on the road) that most saw as an excellent opportunity to win given that Pittsburgh’s spledid QB was suspended at the time. The rest of the games have gone according to script except that the Falcons have struggled in wins over SF and the Bengals.
A good team. Five wins as expected or, at best, five wins when four would have been expected.
Hardly a path to the Super Bowl.
Now, when UGA beats UF this Saturday, don’t go all crazy on us. UGA will most likely end with seven wins this year. After the Colorado loss, most would have guessed the Bulldogs would end the season with six wins but most would have never guessed how lucky the Bulldogs would have been to catch UF during UF’s worst season of the century.
Like the Falcons, UGA will end up being a good team, nothing more, nothing less.
Chop Buster
October 26th, 2010
8:23 am
Some of you are highly delusional. This team does have holes in it on both sides of the ball. Be a realist and not a blind loyalist. Our backups showed this past Sunday that we would be in real trouble if we had to rely on them down the stretch. LT is garbage and Dimitroff better find a replacement for Baker. We need to be consistent before we’re going to dominant or win anything of significance. Not trying to be negative, just the things that I’ve observed watching our games. We have a lot of unrealized potential–but that’s not what win games.
Chop Buster
October 26th, 2010
8:54 am
Also, PMC hit the nail on the head. Still too much undiscipline youths to be consistent IMO. That’s why they looked so confused in the Eagles game. Where is the confusion from our DC? I want more from our OC for the rest of the season as well. Name of the game for our OC/DC is keep our opponent’s offense and defense guessing.
Sports Review
October 26th, 2010
9:20 am
[...] The Falcons can make the Super Bowl: Do they know that?Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Big day for White as Falcons fly to 5-2 with 39-32 win over BengalsNFL GridIron GabAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -The Falcoholicall 22 news articles » [...]
Sports Review
October 26th, 2010
10:46 am
[...] Tops All NFL ReceiversFootball News NowFalcons Hold Off BengalsAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -NFL GridIron Gab -The Falcoholicall 23 news [...]
Boo the Falcons!!!
October 26th, 2010
11:47 am
Get rid of Matt Ryan and this team might go 2 the superbowel.
ATL Observer
October 26th, 2010
12:11 pm
I don’t want to go to the super bowel…that sounds like a painful experience.
(Sorry, don’t normally bounce on a misspelling, but that one struck me as hilarious).